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Battle over mining in ancient forest goes to Sweden's highest court
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/17/mining-forest-sweden?intcmp=122
A butterfly on a Gaffelfibbla (Pilosella dichotoma). More than half of the world’s rare yellow flowers are reportedly found on the site proposed for mining in Ojnare forest. Photograph: Rasmus Holmboe Dahl/Alamy
A landmark case that could affect the fate of forests across Sweden reaches its final stage today in the supreme court.
Environmentalists have warned that a damaging precedent will be set if Finnish company Nordkalk is allowed to carry out large-scale limestone mining in an ancient, biodiverse habitat on the northern Swedish island of Gotland.
The planned limestone quarry would destroy part of Ojnare forest and neighbouring wetlands, a region that borders two protected areas and is so valuable that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to turn it into a national park.
